6th Grade PLT Members: Collins, Fields, Wright, Carpenter, Saunders, Stack, Hatfield, Cummings, Conoly, Procknal - Please record the minutes of each PLT meeting on top of the previous minutes.
2010-2011 School Year
10-20-10
Facilitator: Carpenter Recorder: Collins
Discussed student progress of several students and behavioral issues that have come up recently.
Also discussed ways to improve classroom mangaement to be clear and concise with expectations.
Watched short video on how to deal appropriately with students that have been diagnosed with ADHD. Discussed videos afterwards.
10/13/10
Facilitator: Cummings Recorder: Collins
Mrs. Saunders asked that everyone check and make sure their evaluations were complete. Also presented some resources for weekly vocabulary using Quizlet and Marvel comics. All accessible through the Virgo website.
Mr. Cummings presented the Online Education evaluation tool. He encouraged everyone to go online and explore the sit to make yourselves comfortable. You can access everything thorugh the NCCS website under professional development.
Ambassadors names were chosen by the 6th grade teachers.
10/6/10 Facilitator: Collins Recorder: Procknal Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment & Bullying (File 8307) http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/support/BullyingHandbook.pdf Child Abuse & Neglect (File 6440) http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/policies/series6000/6440.pdf Suicide Intervention - Never leave child alone -immediately notify counselor, Social Worker, Adminsitration - child must be sen by a professional (Licensed Therapist or Pedatrician) - if child has weapons, call 911 or School Resource Officer, and school administration Home Visit Safety & Meth Lab Protocol - upon conducting a home visit and you suspect that a Meth Lab exists, vacate the premises immediately without alerting the residents - after leaving notify school administration - Adminstrator must immediately call 911 - Do not remove children form the home or transport them in your car - if a child discloses information about a Meth Lab notify Administration and SRO immediately Carpenter- starting 10/11/10 7th grade Band students will be in the 6th grade lunch 9/29/10 Facilitator: Spencer/Saunders Recorder: Procknal
Class Scapes Update-
9/22/10 Facilitator: Carpenter Recorder: Fields *More tutoring slots available (tutors will be volunteers) --See Mrs. Robbins if you know of a student who could use the extra help *Avid: Starting on Monday (9/27), avid will be selling the Frank Discount Cards. 9/15/10 Facilitator: Carpenter Recorder: Fields *Mandated Committees this year:
-Data Committee
*Oct. 1st: 5:30 (Avid Night), 6:00 (PTA & title one), 6:30 (Bingo Night w/ food & refreshments)
*Wilmington Early College students: will be here: 9:30-11:30 every other Friday starting Sept. 24
9/8/10Facilitator: Carpenter Recorder: Procknal
Ms. Robbins reviewed the Compulsory attendance policy for New Hanover county & McKinney- Vento Act
Excused absences include-
1. illness
2. death in family
3. quarantine
4. medical/dental appointment
5. religious observance
6. Court appearance
7. Farm/Housing Demands
8. Educational opportunity
Un- Excused absences include-
1. missing bus
2. oversleeping
3. out of town trips unless prior consent from principal
4. vacations
5. inclement weather
McKinney- Vento Act
McKinney-Vento is the primary piece of federal legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness in U.S. public schools. It was reauthorized as Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002. The McKinney-Vento Act was created with the goal of ensuring the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth in school. It provides states with funding to help remove barriers to education.
Children and youth experiencing homelessness find shelter in a variety of places. To help educators identify homeless children, the Act defines who is considered homeless. According to the U.S. Department of Education, people living in the following situations are considered homeless.
Doubled up with family or friends due to economic conditions
Living in motels and hotels for lack of other suitable housing
Runaway and "Throwaway" children and youth
Homes for unwed or expectant mothers for lack of a place to live
Homeless and domestic violence shelters
Transitional housing programs
The streets
Abandoned buildings
Public places not meant for housing
Cars, trailers, and campgrounds
Awaiting foster care
Migratory children staying in housing not fit for habitation
Residency and Educational RightsStudents who are in temporary, inadequate, and homeless living situations have the following rights: 1) Immediate enrollment in the school they last attended or the school in whose attendance area they are currently staying even if they do not have all of the documents normally required at the time of enrollment; 2) Access to free meals and textbooks, Title I and other educational programs, and other comparable services including transportation 3) To attend the same classes and activities that students in other living situations also participate in without fear of being separated or treated differently due to their housing situations
9/1/10Facilitator: Carpenter
Recorder: Procknal
Ms. Robbins spoke to the group and indicated that there will be volunteers and mentors available for all of the students. She would like to know when and where they can be utilized, and would like teacher input on the names of students that would benefit most from their help. Ms. Robbins will also be presenting next week and the topic will be attendance policies in New Hanover County. She stressed that parents should be contacted after two consecutive absences, and that the homeroom teacher is responsible for touching base with the parents. If no contact can be made (phone disconnected, message not returned), please refer the students name to her and she will follow up.
All 504 related issues and questions should be referred to Ms. Hope the 7th & 8th grade Guidance Counselor.
School Year 2009-2010 in ascending order below:
10/7/09
Facilitator: Carpenter
Recorder: Saunders
Looked at wiki set up. Set team norms. Evaluated teacher needs. Examined relevant data
Generated goal for team
For next week: Review team wikis and bring information/articles related to our goal
TEAM GOAL: Consistently and continually strengthen and examine relevant and realistic new ways to teach our students and know its impact on their learning through a variety of assessments. Facilitator for next week: Carpenter
Recorder for next week: Saunders
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments. Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction. Points/Focus of the Day: We are currently using the following methods of data driven assessment:
QRI’s, STS, Probes, EOG scores, cum folders, PSM, Reading Our World, formative classroom assessments, ClassScape; Many of the above assessments are smaller tests that target specific skills. Assessing more often. Next Week:
Wright will look for articles, share PSM information, look at reading probes, check Wiki
Facilitator for next week: Saunders
Recorder for next week: Fields
10/21/09
Facilitator: Saunders,
Recorder: Fields
TEAM GOAL:
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments. Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: to look for relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction. Points/Focus of the Day:
*Reviewed the discussion board (responses left by Broderick & Carpenter)
*Reviewed articles brought in (Fields & Wright)
Key Points/Ideas to Articles on PLT’s: Practical Tips: keep meetings action-oriented, increases content knowledge, increases moral
Reasoning for establishing PLT’s: increase accountability, sustain high achievment, help low and underachieving students
*Discussion of Probes: Viewed the student reading comprehension and math probes and discussed. Questions were answered by Mr. Procknal. Next Week:
Look at the Rewards Reading Program
Facilitator for next week: Saunders
Recorder for next week: Fields
10/28/09
Facilitator: Saunders
Recorder: Fields
TEAM GOAL:
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments. Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: to look for relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction. Points/Focus of the Day:
*Rewards Reading Program (Multisyllabic Word Reading Strategies)
-Used to help with Decoding, not Comprehension
-will be used with the level 2’s and some level 1’s
-We have the Middle(blue) & Elementary(red) level books
-can be used in STS Next Week:
Comprehension Strategies & STS
Facilitator for next week: Fields
Recorder for next week: Van Pelt
11/4/09
Facilitator: Fields
Recorder: Van Pelt
TEAM GOAL : Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments. Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: to look for relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction. Points/Focus of the Day:
*Comprehension Strategies
-graphic organizers are not a big help with comprehension
-vocabulary-word wall is an excellent comprehension strategy
-Think Aloud - An interactive word wall, is a good strategy
-summarizing is a definite mastery of comprehension
-Ms. Wright has a book of Comprehension Strategies if anyone is interested Next Week:
Everyone bring a comprehension strategy that you have used and like.
Facilitator for next week: Fields
Recorder for next week: Van Pelt
11/10/09
Facilitator: Fields
Recorder: Van Pelt
TEAM GOAL : Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments. Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: to look for relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction. Points/Focus of the Day: *Comprehension Strategies:
*Ms. Wright made a packet of comprehension strategies for everyone in the group.
*Mr. Fields went over one of the comprehension strategies that he uses in his scinece class, “Talk and Draw “.
”Talk and Draw” can also be used as an assessment.
*Ms. Carpenter discussed the comprehension strategy she uses in her social studies class, “Think Aloud”.
*Mr. Procknal talked about using “Think Aloud” in his Language Class. Reading short passages, stopping and discussing what was just read.
*Ms. Brodrick discussed using the 3 X 3 Vocabulary Strategy in assisting with writing complete sentences. Next Week:
Everyone use a comprehension strategy during the week and be ready to discuss and show results.
Facilitator for next week: Van Pelt
Recorder for next week: Procknal
11/18/09 Facilitator: Van Pelt Recorder: Procknal TEAM GOAL : Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments. Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: to look for relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction. Points/Focus of the Day:
-Mr. Procknal shared rubric and writing process that he uses in his class. We viewed samples of student’s writing (rough draft and then corrected version). While the students are writing, they have a copy of the rubric on their desk to help them. This seems to help them remember things like indenting, topic sentence, capitalization / punctuation, etc. Mr. Procknal explained that he has students read their drafts aloud, which helps them notice their mistakes.
-We discussed ways this would be helpful in each of our classes Next Week: -Everyone will explore different websites / materials that may be useful to assist students in their comprehension.
Facilitator for next week: Van Pelt
Recorder for next week: Procknal 12/9/09
Facilitator: Van Pelt
Recorder: Procknal
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments. Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers to look for relevant and realistic ways to deliver instruction. Points / Focus of the Day:
-The team looked at specific websites that can be used to help students become better students.
-Some of the websites viewed were: pimpampum.net softschools.com/graes/6th kutasoftware.comfreeipa.html Next Week:
We will examine other websites as well as how to engage all students actively
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers to look for relevant and realistic ways to deliver instruction. Points / Focus of the Day:
We reviewed another website (sciencemonster.com) and discussed various websites and how to actively engage all students. Facilitator next time: Holdridge Recorder for next time: Wright
1/6/10 Facilitator: Wright
Recorder: Holdridge Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers to look for relevant and realistic ways to deliver instruction. Points / Focus of the Day: 1) We discussed the credit received for completing PLT – and everyone was reminded to submit evaluation form in order to receive CEU’s.
2) We discussed changing / modifying our goal for the new year
3) Holdridge shared: she would like a list of compiled websites that each of us use that are helpful in our classes that her students may use when time is allowed on computers. Computer time is used as behavior modification – implementing technology in the classroom.
4) Ms. Saunders cautioned us to keep an eye out for students being on different websites than where they are supposed to be – she instructed us on how to be aware of this.
5) We discussed PBS and the benefits of it and maybe the possibility of trying it.
Next Week: Each person is to think / consider the revision of our team goal. 1/13/10
Facilitator: Wright Recorder: Holdridge
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers to look for relevant and realistic ways to deliver instruction. Points / Focus of the Day: 1)We discussed revising our team goal. We want to lean more towards student motivation / relevant impact on student behavior, when learning is realistic and motivated.
2)Mr. Cummings described the elective teachers’ classroom management system PBC > positive reward system > cougar tickets. 3)Carpenter explained speaking to students every morning – sharing time in homeroom.
4)Mr. Cummings addressed the article, Generation X
5)Wright and Saunders discussed using classroom tickets / rewards. Revised Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students. Next week: discuss article, Generation X / discuss other ways of motivating students 1/20/10
Facilitator: Wright Recorder: Broderick
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students. Points / Focus of the Day:
-reviewed notes from last week
-read new goal
-discussed a few report card issues
-Mr. Cummings explained some changes for next year due to redistricting such as the special needs classes, number of students, etc.
-discussed the Board members’ visit to Virgo (7th grade PLT)
-we tabled the discussion on the article Generation X
Next Week: article ‘Generation X’
1/27/10
Facilitator: Wright
Recorder: Broderick
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students. Points / Focus of the Day: -Saunders showed us how to add a Powerpoint or site to our Webpages:
-Log onto Teacher Webpages / site actions / view site actions / documents / upload
-browse to where you have the item that you want to load (your documents, flashdrive, etc)
-double-click on the site / OK / and it puts it in the server
-go to links / site actions / edit page / new group (name it)
-go to link URL: Browse
-select the item you are adding
-click ‘open’ in new window / click OK
-We watched Ms. Saunders add a PowerPoint to Ms. Carpenter’s webpage.
-We then viewed the PowerPoint that on Ms. Carpenter’s Webpage 02/10/10
Facilitator: Saunders (fill in)
Recorder: Wright (fill-in)
Team Goal:Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students. Points / Focus of the Day: We reviewed Internet Safety and student AUP's. We discussed ways to prevent students streaming music and videos. The county is reporting misuse of bandwidth at our school and it is our responsibility to become more viligant.
-We also discussed strategies for assessing students and grading practices. Next week
Read the article "The Learning Principal: Making the Most of Professional Learning Teams" and be prepared to discuss. Broderick will also share information on PLT's.
Team Goal:Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students. Points / Focus of the Day: We discussed the article, 'The Learning Principal: Making the most of Professional Learning Communities"
Broderick led the group in a discussion of the role of PLC's and how it can help the teachers of today. We were divided into groups to take different parts of the article and discuss the main points of each section. We then presented our findings to the entire group. As we listened to others present, we completed and jigsaw puzzle to list the important points from each section. Each of us then wrote a summary statement. Next Week: Ms. Saunders will present/share new websites with us.
2/24/10 Facilitator: Saunders Recorder: Holdridge
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students Points / Focus of the Day: Technology. Ms. Saunders displayed new websites that might be of assistance in our classes and will also help in the area of Computer Skills. The websites that were introduced today were: 'Google Squared' and 'Wordle'. Google Squared is a good site for database. On this site, teachers may build their own databases to correspond with the subject matter taht they are teaching. Wordle can be used to assist students with vocabulary in any subject matter. Next Week: Mr Fields will present math concepts that will be applicable in each subject area.
Tagging pages is now done in a new place. Once you have saved your changes, click on the “Page” tab and select “Details and Tags”.
2010-2011 School Year
10-20-10
Facilitator: Carpenter
Recorder: Collins
Discussed student progress of several students and behavioral issues that have come up recently.
Also discussed ways to improve classroom mangaement to be clear and concise with expectations.
Watched short video on how to deal appropriately with students that have been diagnosed with ADHD. Discussed videos afterwards.
10/13/10
Facilitator: Cummings
Recorder: Collins
Mrs. Saunders asked that everyone check and make sure their evaluations were complete.
Also presented some resources for weekly vocabulary using Quizlet and Marvel comics. All accessible through the Virgo website.
Mr. Cummings presented the Online Education evaluation tool. He encouraged everyone to go online and explore the sit to make yourselves comfortable. You can access everything thorugh the NCCS website under professional development.
Ambassadors names were chosen by the 6th grade teachers.
10/6/10
Facilitator: Collins
Recorder: Procknal
Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment & Bullying (File 8307)
http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/support/BullyingHandbook.pdf
Child Abuse & Neglect
(File 6440)
http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/policies/series6000/6440.pdf
Suicide Intervention
- Never leave child alone
-immediately notify counselor, Social Worker, Adminsitration
- child must be sen by a professional (Licensed Therapist or Pedatrician)
- if child has weapons, call 911 or School Resource Officer, and school administration
Home Visit Safety & Meth Lab Protocol
- upon conducting a home visit and you suspect that a Meth Lab exists, vacate the premises immediately without alerting the residents
- after leaving notify school administration
- Adminstrator must immediately call 911
- Do not remove children form the home or transport them in your car
- if a child discloses information about a Meth Lab notify Administration and SRO immediately
Carpenter- starting 10/11/10 7th grade Band students will be in the 6th grade lunch
9/29/10
Facilitator: Spencer/Saunders
Recorder: Procknal
Class Scapes Update-
9/22/10
Facilitator: Carpenter
Recorder: Fields
*More tutoring slots available (tutors will be volunteers)
--See Mrs. Robbins if you know of a student who could use the extra help
*Avid: Starting on Monday (9/27), avid will be selling the Frank Discount Cards.
9/15/10
Facilitator: Carpenter
Recorder: Fields
*Mandated Committees this year:
-Data Committee
*Mandated Committees next year:
-Project Committee
-Process Committee
-Cause & Effect Committee
*Oct. 1st: 5:30 (Avid Night), 6:00 (PTA & title one), 6:30 (Bingo Night w/ food & refreshments)
*Wilmington Early College students: will be here: 9:30-11:30 every other Friday starting Sept. 24
9/8/10Facilitator: Carpenter
Recorder: Procknal
Ms. Robbins reviewed the Compulsory attendance policy for New Hanover county & McKinney- Vento Act
Excused absences include-
1. illness
2. death in family
3. quarantine
4. medical/dental appointment
5. religious observance
6. Court appearance
7. Farm/Housing Demands
8. Educational opportunity
Un- Excused absences include-
1. missing bus
2. oversleeping
3. out of town trips unless prior consent from principal
4. vacations
5. inclement weather
McKinney- Vento Act
McKinney-Vento is the primary piece of federal legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness in U.S. public schools. It was reauthorized as Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002. The McKinney-Vento Act was created with the goal of ensuring the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth in school. It provides states with funding to help remove barriers to education.
Children and youth experiencing homelessness find shelter in a variety of places. To help educators identify homeless children, the Act defines who is considered homeless. According to the U.S. Department of Education, people living in the following situations are considered homeless.
Residency and Educational RightsStudents who are in temporary, inadequate, and homeless living situations have the following rights:
1) Immediate enrollment in the school they last attended or the school in whose attendance area they are currently staying even if they do not have all of the documents normally required at the time of enrollment; 2) Access to free meals and textbooks, Title I and other educational programs, and other comparable services including transportation 3) To attend the same classes and activities that students in other living situations also participate in without fear of being separated or treated differently due to their housing situations
9/1/10Facilitator: Carpenter
Recorder: Procknal
Ms. Robbins spoke to the group and indicated that there will be volunteers and mentors available for all of the students. She would like to know when and where they can be utilized, and would like teacher input on the names of students that would benefit most from their help. Ms. Robbins will also be presenting next week and the topic will be attendance policies in New Hanover County. She stressed that parents should be contacted after two consecutive absences, and that the homeroom teacher is responsible for touching base with the parents. If no contact can be made (phone disconnected, message not returned), please refer the students name to her and she will follow up.
All 504 related issues and questions should be referred to Ms. Hope the 7th & 8th grade Guidance Counselor.
School Year 2009-2010 in ascending order below:
10/7/09
Facilitator: Carpenter
Recorder: Saunders
Looked at wiki set up. Set team norms. Evaluated teacher needs. Examined relevant data
Generated goal for team
For next week: Review team wikis and bring information/articles related to our goal
TEAM GOAL: Consistently and continually strengthen and examine relevant and realistic new ways to teach our students and know its impact on their learning through a variety of assessments.
Facilitator for next week: Carpenter
Recorder for next week: Saunders
10/14/09
Facilitator: Carpenter
Recorder: Saunders
TEAM GOAL (Revised):
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments.
Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction.
Points/Focus of the Day:
We are currently using the following methods of data driven assessment:
QRI’s, STS, Probes, EOG scores, cum folders, PSM, Reading Our World, formative classroom assessments, ClassScape; Many of the above assessments are smaller tests that target specific skills. Assessing more often.
Next Week:
Wright will look for articles, share PSM information, look at reading probes, check Wiki
Facilitator for next week: Saunders
Recorder for next week: Fields
10/21/09
Facilitator: Saunders,
Recorder: Fields
TEAM GOAL:
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments.
Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: to look for relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction.
Points/Focus of the Day:
*Reviewed the discussion board (responses left by Broderick & Carpenter)
*Reviewed articles brought in (Fields & Wright)
Key Points/Ideas to Articles on PLT’s: Practical Tips: keep meetings action-oriented, increases content knowledge, increases moral
Reasoning for establishing PLT’s: increase accountability, sustain high achievment, help low and underachieving students
*Discussion of Probes: Viewed the student reading comprehension and math probes and discussed. Questions were answered by Mr. Procknal.
Next Week:
Look at the Rewards Reading Program
Facilitator for next week: Saunders
Recorder for next week: Fields
10/28/09
Facilitator: Saunders
Recorder: Fields
TEAM GOAL:
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments.
Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: to look for relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction.
Points/Focus of the Day:
*Rewards Reading Program (Multisyllabic Word Reading Strategies)
-Used to help with Decoding, not Comprehension
-will be used with the level 2’s and some level 1’s
-We have the Middle(blue) & Elementary(red) level books
-can be used in STS
Next Week:
Comprehension Strategies & STS
Facilitator for next week: Fields
Recorder for next week: Van Pelt
11/4/09
Facilitator: Fields
Recorder: Van Pelt
TEAM GOAL :
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments.
Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: to look for relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction.
Points/Focus of the Day:
*Comprehension Strategies
-graphic organizers are not a big help with comprehension
-vocabulary-word wall is an excellent comprehension strategy
-Think Aloud - An interactive word wall, is a good strategy
-summarizing is a definite mastery of comprehension
-Ms. Wright has a book of Comprehension Strategies if anyone is interested
Next Week:
Everyone bring a comprehension strategy that you have used and like.
Facilitator for next week: Fields
Recorder for next week: Van Pelt
11/10/09
Facilitator: Fields
Recorder: Van Pelt
TEAM GOAL :
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments.
Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: to look for relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction.
Points/Focus of the Day:
*Comprehension Strategies:
*Ms. Wright made a packet of comprehension strategies for everyone in the group.
*Mr. Fields went over one of the comprehension strategies that he uses in his scinece class, “Talk and Draw “.
”Talk and Draw” can also be used as an assessment.
*Ms. Carpenter discussed the comprehension strategy she uses in her social studies class, “Think Aloud”.
*Mr. Procknal talked about using “Think Aloud” in his Language Class. Reading short passages, stopping and discussing what was just read.
*Ms. Brodrick discussed using the 3 X 3 Vocabulary Strategy in assisting with writing complete sentences.
Next Week:
Everyone use a comprehension strategy during the week and be ready to discuss and show results.
Facilitator for next week: Van Pelt
Recorder for next week: Procknal
11/18/09
Facilitator: Van Pelt Recorder: Procknal
TEAM GOAL :
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments.
Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers: to look for relevant and realistic new ways to deliver instruction.
Points/Focus of the Day:
-Mr. Procknal shared rubric and writing process that he uses in his class. We viewed samples of student’s writing (rough draft and then corrected version). While the students are writing, they have a copy of the rubric on their desk to help them. This seems to help them remember things like indenting, topic sentence, capitalization / punctuation, etc. Mr. Procknal explained that he has students read their drafts aloud, which helps them notice their mistakes.
-We discussed ways this would be helpful in each of our classes
Next Week:
-Everyone will explore different websites / materials that may be useful to assist students in their comprehension.
Facilitator for next week: Van Pelt
Recorder for next week: Procknal
12/9/09
Facilitator: Van Pelt
Recorder: Procknal
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments.
Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers to look for relevant and realistic ways to deliver instruction.
Points / Focus of the Day:
-The team looked at specific websites that can be used to help students become better students.
-Some of the websites viewed were: pimpampum.net softschools.com/graes/6th kutasoftware.comfreeipa.html
Next Week:
We will examine other websites as well as how to engage all students actively
12/16/09
Facilitator: Saunders (fill-in)
Recorder: Carpenter (fill-in)
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments
Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers to look for relevant and realistic ways to deliver instruction.
Points / Focus of the Day:
We reviewed another website (sciencemonster.com) and discussed various websites and how to actively engage all students.
Facilitator next time: Holdridge
Recorder for next time: Wright
1/6/10
Facilitator: Wright
Recorder: Holdridge
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments
Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers to look for relevant and realistic ways to deliver instruction.
Points / Focus of the Day:
1) We discussed the credit received for completing PLT – and everyone was reminded to submit evaluation form in order to receive CEU’s.
2) We discussed changing / modifying our goal for the new year
3) Holdridge shared: she would like a list of compiled websites that each of us use that are helpful in our classes that her students may use when time is allowed on computers. Computer time is used as behavior modification – implementing technology in the classroom.
4) Ms. Saunders cautioned us to keep an eye out for students being on different websites than where they are supposed to be – she instructed us on how to be aware of this.
5) We discussed PBS and the benefits of it and maybe the possibility of trying it.
Next Week: Each person is to think / consider the revision of our team goal.
1/13/10
Facilitator: Wright
Recorder: Holdridge
Team Goal:
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to teach our students and know the impact on their learning through assessments
Subtopic: What do we want to learn as teachers to look for relevant and realistic ways to deliver instruction.
Points / Focus of the Day:
1)We discussed revising our team goal. We want to lean more towards student motivation / relevant impact on student behavior, when learning is realistic and motivated.
2)Mr. Cummings described the elective teachers’ classroom management system PBC > positive reward system > cougar tickets. 3)Carpenter explained speaking to students every morning – sharing time in homeroom.
4)Mr. Cummings addressed the article, Generation X
5)Wright and Saunders discussed using classroom tickets / rewards.
Revised Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students.
Next week: discuss article, Generation X / discuss other ways of motivating students
1/20/10
Facilitator: Wright
Recorder: Broderick
Team Goal:
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students.
Points / Focus of the Day:
-reviewed notes from last week
-read new goal
-discussed a few report card issues
-Mr. Cummings explained some changes for next year due to redistricting such as the special needs classes, number of students, etc.
-discussed the Board members’ visit to Virgo (7th grade PLT)
-we tabled the discussion on the article Generation X
Next Week: article ‘Generation X’
1/27/10
Facilitator: Wright
Recorder: Broderick
Team Goal:
Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students.
Points / Focus of the Day:
-Saunders showed us how to add a Powerpoint or site to our Webpages:
-Log onto Teacher Webpages / site actions / view site actions / documents / upload
-browse to where you have the item that you want to load (your documents, flashdrive, etc)
-double-click on the site / OK / and it puts it in the server
-go to links / site actions / edit page / new group (name it)
-go to link URL: Browse
-select the item you are adding
-click ‘open’ in new window / click OK
-We watched Ms. Saunders add a PowerPoint to Ms. Carpenter’s webpage.
-We then viewed the PowerPoint that on Ms. Carpenter’s Webpage
02/10/10
Facilitator: Saunders (fill in)
Recorder: Wright (fill-in)
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students.
Points / Focus of the Day: We reviewed Internet Safety and student AUP's. We discussed ways to prevent students streaming music and videos. The county is reporting misuse of bandwidth at our school and it is our responsibility to become more viligant.
-We also discussed strategies for assessing students and grading practices.
Next week
Read the article "The Learning Principal: Making the Most of Professional Learning Teams" and be prepared to discuss. Broderick will also share information on PLT's.
2/17/10
Facilitator: Broderick
Recorder: Carpenter
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students.
Points / Focus of the Day: We discussed the article, 'The Learning Principal: Making the most of Professional Learning Communities"
Broderick led the group in a discussion of the role of PLC's and how it can help the teachers of today. We were divided into groups to take different parts of the article and discuss the main points of each section. We then presented our findings to the entire group. As we listened to others present, we completed and jigsaw puzzle to list the important points from each section. Each of us then wrote a summary statement.
Next Week: Ms. Saunders will present/share new websites with us.
2/24/10
Facilitator: Saunders
Recorder: Holdridge
Team Goal: Strengthen and examine relevant ways to motivate our students
Points / Focus of the Day: Technology. Ms. Saunders displayed new websites that might be of assistance in our classes and will also help in the area of Computer Skills. The websites that were introduced today were: 'Google Squared' and 'Wordle'. Google Squared is a good site for database. On this site, teachers may build their own databases to correspond with the subject matter taht they are teaching. Wordle can be used to assist students with vocabulary in any subject matter.
Next Week: Mr Fields will present math concepts that will be applicable in each subject area.
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